Yesterday (August 7) I had the pleasure of visiting the Benson Centre in Cornwall, where something a little different — and very exciting — was happening. The team from PoptronicVR brought their high-tech gear to give youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Cornwall a hands-on introduction to the world of virtual reality.
Using Meta Quest VR headsets, the kids got to explore fun and interactive experiences like Walkabout Mini Golf, Job Simulator, Gorilla Tag, Among Us VR, I Am Cat, and Hockey VR. The room was filled with laughter and energy as the kids stepped into these virtual worlds — many for the first time.
What’s especially great is that this isn’t just about games. As Poptronic VR co-founder Kelly Bergeron shared, the goal is to help kids engage with technology in a way that encourages learning, creativity, and problem-solving. Virtual reality can support cognitive development while making the process fun and interactive.
“We believe virtual reality is more than entertainment. It’s an educational and transformative experience,” said Kelly. “We’re thrilled to bring this technology to kids in Cornwall, where it’s sparking curiosity, laughter, and learning all at once.”
Deborah Locke from the Boys and Girls Club added “VR has been an amazing way to get our kids engaged, learning, and connecting in new ways. It’s hands-on, it sparks curiosity, and it helps them see the world differently.”
All the children had 5 minutes each with the headsets and while I was there I loved watching these three kids moving and waving their arms to what they were seeing on their virtual screens giving them a pretty good work out at the same time as they were learning. Check out the videos on the Seeker Facebook Group.
Also for any of you who are worried – the headsets are cleaned between each use with special sanitizing wipes…
A big thank-you to Poptronic VR and the Boys and Girls Club for bringing this opportunity to our local youth. It’s great to see technology being used to inspire and educate in such a fun way.
This partnership with the Boys and Girls Club is part of Poptronic’s mission to make immersive tech more accessible to communities across Canada. And the good news? The experience doesn’t end here.
Starting this fall, Poptronic will be hosting monthly VR Clubs for youth aged 8 to 16 at the Benson Centre — offering a chance for more kids to explore these virtual experiences in a safe and welcoming environment.
Mai-Liis is Co-owner and Head of Sales at The Seeker NewsMagazine. She loves discovering the gems in our area, be it people, events or businesses, in a fun, easy to read way in her "OUT and ABOUT with Seeker Chick Mai-Liis" columns.
